Machine for feeding safety-pin shields and the like.



G. E. HARCKB.

MACHINE FOR FEEDING SAFETY PIN SHIELDS AND THE LIKE. APPLICATION FILED MAYZ'I, 1913.

1,1 1 9,823. Patented Dec. 8, 1914-.

4 BHEETSSHBIIT 1-.

TIM!- mum Zulu 73% 5 aw/hams:

G. E. HARGKE. MACHINE FOR FEEDING SAFETY PIN SHIELDS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27,1913.

1,11 9,823. Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHBET 2.

avwam/coz Wane/mes ,3 6 m! 8 G. B. HARGKE.

MACHINE FOR FEEDING SAFETY PIN SHIELDS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27,1913. 1 1 1 9,823, Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

4 SHEETS-8HEET 3.

G. B. HARGKE. MACHINE FOR FEEDING SAFETY PIN SHIELDS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27, 1913.

Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

4 SHEETS SHBET 4' GUSTAV E. HARCKE, 0F WATERB'UBY, CONNECTICUT. ASSIGNOB TOAMERICAN PIN COMPANY, OF WATEBBUBY, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

MACHINE FOB FEEDING SAFETY-PIN SHIELDS AND THE LIKE.

Specification 0! Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

Application filed ma 27, 1918. Serial N0. 770,181.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GUSTAV E. He ress, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Waterbury, county of New Haven,

"and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Feeding Safety-Pin Shields and the Like, of which the following is a full and clear specification.

This invention relates to machines for feeding safety pin shields and the like, the primary object being to provide an improved construction, combination, and arrangement of parts in a machine of this character by means of which the articles can be lifted out of a mass one by one and preferably delivered in a manner which will adapt the feeding mechanism to correlate with other mechanisms in assembling the parts of a completed article of merchandisc such for example as a safetypin.

More especially, the present invention contemplates an improved mechanism for tilt feeding safety pin shields in suitable relation to the other parts of safety pins with which they are to be assembled.

Other and further objects will appear in the specification and be pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which. my invention is exemplified in its adaptation to a safety pin machine.

In the drawings,--Figure 1 is a front ele vation of one embodiment of my invention, parts being broken'away; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same; Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the same, parts being omitted and parts shown in elevation; F1 4 is a fragmentary front elevation of t 1e lower portion of the hopper and with the front wall removed; Fig. 5 is a section on the line V-V, Fig. 1, parts being shown in plan; Fi 6 is a fragmentary rear elevation of t e annular gear conveyor; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary front elevation of the cam ring; Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail section of the-annular gear and cam ring; on the line VIH-VIIL Fi 1; Fig. 9 is a similar section at the top 0 the ring,certain contiguous parts being shown in elevation: Fig. 10 is a fra mentary front elevation of the gear ring s lowing interlocked shields: Fig. 11' is a vertical longitudinal section of the-chute; Fig. 12 is a plan view of the same; Figs. 13, 1-1, loand 16 are sections on the lines XIIL-XIII, XIV -XIV, XVXV and XVI-XVI respectively of Fig. .12. Referring more particularly to the drawings, in the embodiment shown therein a hopper is provided comprising a storage section 1 with a sloping bottom 2, which may be mounted on any suitable support by means of a base flange 3 which is connected to the hopper by means of a web 2 and a delivery portion 5, into which the articles are fed, n the present instance, shields for safety pins. Said portions of the hopper are separated by a partition 6, provided ad acent the bottom of the hopper with an opening 7. The opening 7 may be closed or opened to any desired extent by means of'a shutter 8, having a handle 9 which is accesssible from above, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Within the delivery portion 5 of the hopper, the bottom walls 10 converge in such a way as to cause the shields to fall edgewise into a series of recesses or pockets 11, as shown most clearly in Fig. 4-. Said pockets or recesses are comprised in a conveyor which is adapted to remove said shields one by one from the mass and to elevate them to a suitable point of delivery from which they are conveyed by a chute in the manner to be hereinafter explained; Preferably, said conveyer is constructed in the form of an annular gear 12 for the purpose of simplifying its embodiment with a working machine, the present embodiment of said gear being designed to receive its motive power from a worm 13, which is keyed to a shaft 14-. Runnin loosely on one end of the shaft 14 is a pul ey 15 which is driven by a belt 16. Said pulley is adapted to transmit )OWBI to the shaft 14; by means of a suitable clutch element 17, which coiiperates with a clutch element 18 formed integrally with the ulley 15, said clutch element 17 being splmed to the shaft It in the manner indicated. Simple and eflicient means for reciprocating the element 17 of the clutch, is provided by a hand lever 19 which is pivoted at 20 and provided with an upwardly deflected arm with a rounded extremity running in the groove 22 of the clutch element 17. The shaft 14 is journaled in suitable bearings '23 formed in any suitable portion of the frame of the machine. As shown in Figs. 3, (3, 8 and-9, the annular gear 12 is pro vided with a series of small circular holes 2%, which are arranged in a circle so that each hole 2% is centrally disposed with respect to a pocket ll. Furthermore, a shield 25 when properly disposed in one of the pockets 11, that is with the rounded end downward, will be in suitable position to have a pin or plunger 26 projected into the rounded central opening in said shield, as shown clearly in Fig. 10. Each of the pins M3 or plungers 26 is rigidly mounted upon a piston 27 of larger diameter than the pin 26, said pistons being reciprocably mounted in correspondingly arranged recesses 28. Between the inner wall of each oil said recesses and the pin 27 therein, is disposed a spring 29, the normal tendency of which is to force the piston 27 to the right, according to Figs. 3 and 8, and to retract the pin 26 from engagement with the shield which an maybe in the socket-l1 at the time.

in order to provide simple and eficient means for operating these pistons at suitable intervals in carrying out the purposes or? these parts, a cam ring 30, preferably as tired in position, is disposed immediately behind the annular gear 12. As indicated in Fig. 7, the cam ring 30 is adapted to permit the pins or plungers 26 to lie in retracted position throughout approximately threeso fourths of an entire revolution, the remaining portion 31 being gradually beveled toward the ring gear 12, so that as said gear travels over that portion of the cam rings, the plungells 11 are gradually forced into as the sockets or recesses 11. By an ins ection of Figs. 1 and d, it will be understood that after a shield 25 has traveled more than from the position shown in Fig. 4, the pluner 26 will begin to enter the central 0 en- 4e mg therein, thus preventing the shield rom fallingout of position during the upper portion at its upward movement. During the first portion of this upward movement, the term of the shield and the pocket 11 co- 46 operate to retain it in position. On the other hand, whenever it happens that the open end of a shield becomes inserted into a socket 11, the plunger 26 durin the upper art of its movement, will be orced inw wardly without engaging the shield 25, and

'hence said shield wil into the hopper, the purpose of this function of the machine being to deliver the shields to the chute to be hereinafter re- 65 terred to, with their branch ends extending forwardly in the direction of movement down said chute.

Referring now to Fig. l, a gear 32 which is of, peculiar form to adapt it to mesh with W the ring gear 12, is provided with a rigidly attached rope pulley 33. The gear 32 and pulley 33 are preferably journaled upon a suitable shaft 34 projecting from a bracket 35, as shown in Fig. 3, a portion 5 of the W5 hopper is provided with a bearing boss 36,

be free to fall back aliases within which is a stub shaft 37 for mounting an agitator in the form of a hub 38, from which project a plurality of radial flexible arms 39, said arms being preferably constructed of coiled spring wire to adapt them to drag over the mass of shields without injury to said shields. lln this manner, the mass is agitated in a manner suitable to segregate the. shields and cause them to drop into the pockets or recesses 11. A grooved pulley 41-0 is formed solid with the hub 38 to adaptpower to be transmitted from the pulley 33, by means of a rope drive d1. Also rigid with the hub 38, is another grooved pulley 42, over which runs a rope or belt 4-3 (see ll ig. 1), the rope 43 being adapted to transmit power to a pulley 4a which is journaled in'a bracket to. The pulley it is preferably constructed of soil: or resilient material, and provided with teeth 46, which as shown in Fig. 9, adapts said toothed alley to engage the lower one of a pair of interlocked shields 25, it being not uncommen for said shields to become interlocked in the manner illustrated in Fig. 10. llt is necessary to embody some such device as this, since should the interlocked shields be discharged into the chute, serious diiliculty and probably damage would result therefrom. In order to provide simple and ellicient means for preventing shields 25 from being jarred fromthe they have'been elevated cm the hopper, ll preferably employ an arcu'ate plate or strap 47. Said late 47 terminates adjacent the' highest point of the rin. gear 12, since at this point the piston 27%1as been suddenly released at the end of the beveled portion 31 of cam ring 30 so as to permit the shield which is held by the plungers '26, to drop into the upper end or the chute t8, said chute bein suitably arranged to convey the shield orward in the manner now to be pointed out.

Referring now to Figs. 11 tolfi inclusive, the chute 48 is provided with a groove or channel which comprises in the present embodiment, a portion 49 of substantially llshaped cross section (see Fig. 13), a broadened'V-shaped portion 50 (see Fig. l-l), acombined U- and V-shaped section 51 (see Fig. 15), and a ll-shaped section with an 'overhangingledge, as shown at 51 in Fig. 16. As shown in F igs. 12 to 16, as well as certain other figures hereinafter. described, each of the shields 25 comprises a relatively light branch '52 and a relatively heavy branch 53. It will furthermore be evident that the feeding mechanismdescribed above, may act to deliver said shields with'tlie heavy branch on eitherside ofthe chute 4d, as represented by the two adjaoently disposed shields at the right of Fig. 12. do

fplungers 26 after" t ll its

cordin to the present embodiment oi my invention, the correct arrangement is shown nuance other shield which is incorrectly disposed,

will likewise travel through the chute with the exception that the lighter branch 52 will slide over the left hand incline when it reaches the V-shaped section 14 of the chute. The last mentioned shield, as it nears that portion of the chute adjacent the section line XV-XV, will however become shifted by reason of the channel or groove in the chute being contracted into the form shown at 51 in Fig. 15, the lighter branch 52 being in consequence of this formation, cause to revolve about the heavier branch 53 into the position shown in Fig. 15. Hence, after the shields. have passed the section line XV-XV, all of them will lie in the chute 48 with their branches in the same relative position.

. What I claim is: x

1. In a machine for feeding safety pin shields, the combination of a hopper for the shields to be fed, means for removing said shields from the hopper and discharging them with their branches presented forwardly, and with the branches of some shields in diderent relative positions than the,branches of other shields, and a chute for said shields adapted to arrange them with the branches of each shield in the same predetermined order in which they are applied one by one to safety pin blanks.

2. In a machine for feeding safety pin shields, the combination of a hopper for the shields to befed, ineans for discharging said shields from the hopper, said means being adapted to deliversaid shields to a chute with their branches presented forwardly thereto, and a'chute for receiving the shields discharged from the hopper, said chute be ing adapted to arrange all of the shields received from said hopper, with their branches in the same relative positions with respect to each other.

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a hopper for articles to-be fed, of a chute into which said articles are to be discharged, means for separately lifting said articlesfrom said receptacle and delivering them to said chute, and means adapted to separate interlocked articles to prevent more than one of said articles being delivered at a time.

4. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a hopper for articles to be fedgof a-chilte into which said jarticles are to be discharged. means-for separately lifting said articles from said receptacle' and delivering them to said chute, and

means adapted to prevent more than. one of said articles being delivered at a time, the last said means being adapted to separate two of said articles which have become locked together.

5'. In a machine for feeding articles having branches of different weights, a chute having a surface over which said articles are adapted to slide, said surface being suitably formed to permit the heavier branches of said articles to determine the arrangement of said articles within the chute, said chute comprising one portion adapted to receive said articlw with the heavier branches disposed in different relative positions with respect to the lighter branches and another portion adapted to revolve the lighter branches of some of said articles around on said heavier branches to arrange all of said articles with the heavier-branches in the same relative positions with respect to the lighter branches.

6. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a hopper, of a chute for safety pin shields with branches of different weights, and means for delivering said shields with the same ends presented to said chute, said chute being ada ted to convey said shields with their branc es arranged in predetermined order and provided with means for changing the positions of said shields to arrange them when the branches are not in such predetermined order.

7. In a machine of the character described, the combination with means for deliverin safety pin shields always with the same en presented, of a chute adapted to receive said shields with their branches out of a predetermined order and rovided with means for arranging said shields in such predetermined order.

8. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a'ho per, a socket traveling into and out of sai hopper, and means for 'lockin an article to be fed in said socket, sai means being releasable.

9. In a machine of the character described a be per, sockets travelin into and out of said liopper, means for Ice ring articles to be fed, in said sockets, said means being adapted to move into and out of locking position with respect to said sockets.

10. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a hopper and a rotatable annulus in said hop er, said annulus being provided with ho ding sockets arranged around the inside edge thereof and provided with means for locking articles to be fed within said sockets.

11. In a machine for feeding safety pin shields, the combination with a hop er provided with means for feeding sa etv pin shields therefrom with the same em presented forwardly and with the branches of saidsh-ields dissimilarly arranged, of a Iltl ilti

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chn'te having walls suitably formed and dis posed to arrange all of said shields vvith their branches in the same predetermined order of arrangement.

12. in a machine of the character described, the combination Or a hopper, a chute leading therefrom for feeding safety pin shields to a safety pin machine, means for feeding said shields from said hopper to said chute with the same ends presented, and means arranged along said chute, tor predetermining the positions oi the branches of said shields passing therethrough.

lid. in a machine of the character described, the combination with a hopper, of a rotatable annulus therein, said annulus being provided with sockets, for receiving safety pin shields only in a predetermined arrangement, means mounted on said annulus for locking said articles in said soclrets, a chute suitably disposed to receive the articles trcm said sockets, and means for releasing said locking means When the sockets are adjacent to said chute. 7

ill. in a machine of the character described, the combination With a hopper for sat ety pin shields, of a'chute leading therefrom, and a conveyor operating between said he per and chute, said conveyor being provided with relatively movable means adapting it to hold a shield when one end is presented thereto but to be non-ellective when the opposite end of said shield is presented thereto. a

.15. lln a machine of the character described, the combination vvitha hopper for safety pin shields, of a conveyor ring pro vided vvith sockets for separate shields, and a pinioperatively related to each of said sockets, said pin being adapted to retain a shield in said socket to remove it ifrom the hopper and afterward to release said shield.

16. lln a machine of the character de scribed, the combination with a hopper for satet pin shields, of a conveyor rin provide with sockets for separate shiel s, and a pin operatively related to each of said soc ets, saidpin being adapted to retain a shield'in said socket to remove it from the hopper and afterward to release said shield,

said pin bein suitably mounted to be under a normal ten ency to release said shield.

17. in a machine of the character described, a feeding device for safety pin shields, said device comprising a ring with soclrepls or recesses arraniged aroundits inigpr eri er a in or p as er reciproca hiouiited in th s lateral Wall of each of said sockets or recesses for releasablyengagin. said shields, and means foroperating said pins or plungers at suitable intervals to enpageand release said shields during the "coding operation,

it. in machineoii the character-described, a device for safety pin a arness shields, said device comprising a ring with sockets or recesses arranged around its inner periphery, a pin or plunger reciprocably mounted in the lateral wall of each of said sockets or recesses tor releasably engaging said shields, and means tor operating said pins or plungers' at suitable intervals to endisposed with relation to said plunger-s, and a chute operatively disposed with respect, to

the sockets in said ring in their discharging positions.

20. in a machine of the cha'racterdescribed, a vertical ring provided with sockets for safety pin shields around its inner periphery, reciprocable plu'ngers arranged transversely of the rim of said ring, said plungers being adapted to engage shields in said sockets and havin their ends projecting from said ring, a fixed cam operatively disposed with relation to said plunger-s, a chute operatively disposed with respect to the sockets in said rin in their discharging positions, and means disposed adjacent the rim of said ring for disen aging other shields which become interloc ed with the shields in said sockets. Y

21. In a machine of the character described, a vertical'rin provided with sockets for safety pin shiel s around its inner periphery, reciprocable plungers arranged transversely of the rim of said ring, said plungers being adapted to engage shields in said sockets and havin their ends projecting from said ring, a Xed cam operatively disposed with relation to said plungers, and a chute operativel disposed with respect to the sockets in sai ring in their discharging positions, said pins bem suitabl arranged with respect to said soc ets so t at shields which are deposited with the branch-end innermost in said sockets, will not be engaged by said plungers. V

522. la a machine of thecharacter described, a chute adapted to convey safety pin shields embodying relatively heavy and relatively light branches, said chute being provided with a depression into which the heavier branch of said shield is adapted to settle by gravity, and means for displacing the lighter branch of said shield about the heavier branch to reverse the relative position of said branches, said means being operative only upon those shields'which have their branches reversely disposed to the required disposition thereof.

23. In a machine of the character described, a chute adapted to convey safety pin shields embodying relatively heavy and lght branches, said chute bein provided with means for reversin the re ative position of the branches 0 said shields, said means comprising a channel or oove in which one wall is formed to gra uall' approach the perpendicular, the shield in thereby caused to assume a position in whic the lighter branch is up ermost and from which position said lig ter branch falls about the heavier branch as a, ivot.

24. In a machine of the c aracter described, a chute for conveying safety pin shields with their branches of unequal weight presented forwardly, said chute being provided with a channeled portion with oppositely disposed inclined sides, the heavier branches of said shields being adapted by gravity to seek the depression intermediate of said inclined sides and with the lighter branches respectivel engaging said inclined sides, and means or rotating the lighter branch on one of said inclines about the heavier branch to which it is connected.

25. In a machine of the character described, a chute for conveying saftey pin shields with their branches of unequal weight presented forwardly, said chute being provided with a channel portion. with oppositely disposed inclined sides, the heavier branches of said shields being adapted by gravity to seek the depression intermediate of said inclined sides and with the lighter branches respectivel engaging said inclined sides, and means or rotating the lighter branch on one of said inclines about the heavier branch to which it is connected said means consistin of another portion of said chute in which t 0 channel is contracted to bring the lighter branch of said shield into a position above the heavier branch thereof, the last said channel being adually inclined toward the opposite side of said chute to reverse the position of said branches of the shield.

26. In a machine for feeding safety in shields, a conveyer for safety pin shie ds, reci rocable plungers suitably mounted on sai conve er to releasably engage said shields, ami a cam for operating said plun- 27. In a machine for feeding safety pin shields, a conveyer for safety pin shie ds, reciprocable plungers suitably mounted on said conve er to releasably engage said shields, an a cam for ogerating said plungers, said cam being fixe adjacent the path of movement of said conveyer and adapted to retain the plungers in shield-engaging position during their travel across said cam said cam terminating adjacent the point 0 6 discharge of said conveyer.

GUSTAV E. HARCKE. Witnesses:

Wu. A. Corm'rmnn, Hana! B. Jnnxms. 

